Chapter 4
As her finger traced the number ’17’ on the wall she glanced down to the mark halfway between ‘6’ and ‘7’ on the doorframe. It was the only mark that didn’t belong to her, and had a small ‘D’ next to it. Jeb had made it after three days of Ever’s pleading just before harvest season. That was only a few months before Dawn had disappeared. As she studied the texture of the sharp edges of the paint where the metal had pierced each mark, someone knocked on the front door.
As she swung the door open, she recognized Beatrice’s dark ruby hair.
“Let’s go berry picking.”
Ever played with the tiny bell around her neck that identified her as a healer in training. “Aren’t we too old to go berry picking?”
“Do you ever outgrow hunger?”
“Fair point,” Ever said. “Come in while I get ready.
